Bellissimo Deals Eight Scoreless in Win over Rider

Wednesday, May 1

Piscataway, N.J.

3:00 PM

Rutgers University

18-24

Rider

13-31

Rider

Rutgers

Photo by: Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics

Bellissimo Deals Eight Scoreless in Win over Rider

May 01 | Baseball

Box Score Statistics

Muller earns first career save to hold off Broncs

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball (18-24) returned to the win column with a 5-4 triumph over Rider (13-31) Wednesday at Bainton Field. The Scarlet Knights used eight scoreless innings on the mound from freshman Jared Bellissimo, three two-RBIs at the plate and the first career save by sophomore Kyle Muller, who stranded the tying run at third, to secure the victory.

"After a long weekend on the road, it was good to come out today and pick up this win," head coach Joe Litterio said. "Jared pitched great out there. He filled up the zone to allow us to build a 5-0 lead. And credit to Kyle for coming in and getting the job done in the ninth."

Bellissimo established a new career high with eight innings worked, besting his six-inning performance last week at Columbia. The left-hander picked up 10 outs in the air, 10 on the ground and struck out two in the outing. He did not walk a batter, scattered five hits, left three on base and had a stretch of eight in a row retired at one point. RU is 5-2 in games started by Bellissimo this season.

In relief, Muller entered in the top of the ninth with bases loaded in a 5-2 game with one out. A walk forced in a run, but senior third baseman Carmen Sclafani prevented a potential game-tying, two-run hit by diving to snare a grounder and throwing to second for a force out. Muller then induced a routine fly ball to left in a one-run game with runners at the corners to earn his first collegiate save.

Offensively, the Scarlet Knights recorded three RBIs with two outs to construct a 5-0 lead through seven innings. Junior Kevin Welsh went 2-for-4 with two knocked in, while freshman Chris Brito reached three times on two singles and a walk. Redshirt freshman Tim Dezzi delivered a two-run hit as well.

Rider registered 10 hits, all singles, and stranded five on base.

SCORING

Rutgers scored first in the second when Sclafani hit a one-out single, stole second and scored after that on a single to center hit by Welsh.
The game stay 1-0 until RU tacked on two runs in the sixth. Brito collected a one-out single, stole second, advanced to third on a single by senior Tyler McNamara and came across on an RBI groundout from Sclafani. Welsh followed with a two-out run-scoring single.
The lead expanded to 5-0 in the seventh. Freshman Victor Valderrama (single) and junior Kevin Blum (error) both reached and found their way into scoring positon with two down. Dezzi then struck a two-run single up the middle.
The Broncs rallied for four runs on five hits in the ninth to cut it to 5-4. However, Muller recorded the final two outs with the tying run in scoring position to preserve the win.

NOTES

Rutgers improved to 7-4 in one-run games and 11-4 at Bainton Field this season.
Rutgers did not commit an error for the 10^th time in 2019.
Bellissimo tied sophomore Harry Rutkowski (April 19 versus Purdue) for the longest start by a Scarlet Knight this season.
Valderrama increased his on-base streak to 19 games, while McNamara is now at 18 in a row.
The game lasted two hours, 35 minutes.

UP NEXT
Rutgers travels to Penn State for a Big Ten series over the weekend. The set starts Friday at 6:30 p.m.

BALLGAME! Muller earns the save by stranding the tying run at third in a 5-4 win over Rider. Bellissimo deals eight scoreless innings for the Scarlet Knights. pic.twitter.com/oQq74topZV
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 1, 2019

Also credit a save to Sclafani for this play! #RBaseball pic.twitter.com/c6pRIH9yDC
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 1, 2019

After a running catch by Valderrama in center, Welsh makes a nice play at shortstop! Bellissimo through eight scoreless innings.

B8 | Rutgers 5, Rider 0 pic.twitter.com/R7aaLRBJ4A
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 1, 2019

Dezzi delivers! A two-out, two-run single expands the lead to five.

B7 | Rutgers 5, Rider 0 pic.twitter.com/ez05dpXOif
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 1, 2019

Serruto with a cannon! A caught stealing sends the game to the stretch.

B7 | Rutgers 3, Rider 0 pic.twitter.com/rX8WTXKc1f
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 1, 2019

Add another! Welsh picks up his second RBI of the day with a two-out single to center. McNamara scores.

B6 | Rutgers 3, Rider 0 pic.twitter.com/hnCLuNeoUq
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 1, 2019

Double play! Welsh starts a 6-4-3 to help Bellissimo end the sixth.

B6 | Rutgers 1, Rider 0 pic.twitter.com/YNQeQZfhhr
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 1, 2019

Strike three! Bellissimo paints the outside corner to finish off the fifth. Lefty has retired the last seven.

B5 | Rutgers 1, Rider 0 pic.twitter.com/nPFflT5AFa
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 1, 2019

Base hit! Welsh knocks in Sclafani (single, stolen base) to give the Scarlet Knights an early lead.

B2 | Rutgers 1, Rider 0 pic.twitter.com/TIjM0jXfKm
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 1, 2019

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@RutgersBaseball), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball) and Facebook (/BaseballRU). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.